U.S. patent application number 11/558654 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-30 for flat panel display having a remote interface controlled by a computer.
Invention is credited to Fernando Petruzziello.
Application Number | 20070202471 11/558654 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35320421 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070202471 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Petruzziello; Fernando |
August 30, 2007 |
FLAT PANEL DISPLAY HAVING A REMOTE INTERFACE CONTROLLED BY A
COMPUTER
Abstract
A simulator instrumentation system comprises a flat panel
display and an overlay placed over the flat panel display. A
controller is functionally connected to the flat panel display for
controlling an image characteristic of the flat panel display. The
controller is connected to a contact switch. A method of
controlling an image characteristic of a flat panel display
comprises the steps of connecting a controller to a contact switch
of a flat panel display and simulating an input sequence of a
contact switch using the controller.
Inventors: |
Petruzziello; Fernando;
(Montreal, QC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BERESKIN AND PARR
40 KING STREET WEST
BOX 401
TORONTO
ON
M5H 3Y2
CA
|
Family ID: |
35320421 |
Appl. No.: |
11/558654 |
Filed: |
November 10, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/CA05/00746 |
May 10, 2005 |
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11558654 |
Nov 10, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
434/30 ;
434/36 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09B 9/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
434/030 ;
434/036 |
International
Class: |
G09B 9/08 20060101
G09B009/08; G09B 19/16 20060101 G09B019/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 10, 2004 |
CA |
2467008 |
Claims
1. A simulator instrumentation system comprising: a flat panel
display; an overlay placed over said flat panel display; a
controller functionally connected to said flat panel display for
controlling an image characteristic of said flat panel display.
2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said controller is
connected to a contact switch.
3. A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said controller controls
said image characteristics of said flat panel display by simulating
an input sequence from said contact switch.
4. A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said controller
communicates to the simulator over a network.
5. A system as defined in claim 4 wherein said controller controls
said image characteristic based on a simulation performed by the
simulator.
6. A system as defined in claim 5 wherein said image characteristic
is brightness.
7. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising an
instrumentation interface operative to send a signal to said
controller, said controller controlling said image characteristic
of said flat panel display based on said signal.
8. A system as defined in claim 7 wherein said instrumentation
interface is located on said overlay.
9. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said flat panel display
is equipped with a gauge area and said overlay is equipped with at
least one opening so that when said overlay is placed over said
flat panel display, said gauge area is visible through said
opening.
10. A system as defined in claim 9 wherein said overlay further
comprises bezels surrounding said openings so as to simulate the
look of a real instrument.
11. A system as defined in claim 10 wherein said simulated
instrument is an aircraft instrument.
12. A method of controlling an image characteristic of a flat panel
display comprising the steps of: connecting a controller to a
contact switch of a flat panel display; simulating a input sequence
of a contact switch using said controller.
13. A method as defined in claim 12 further comprising the step of
covering said flat panel display with an overlay for simulating an
instrument.
14. A method as defined in claim 13 further comprising the step of
connecting said controller to an instrumentation interface.
15. A method as defined in claim 14 further comprising the step of
controlling the image characteristic based on a signal received
from said instrumentation interface.
16. A method as defined in claim 15 further comprising the step of
controlling the image characteristic based on a simulation.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT
application No. PCT/CA2005/000746 filed on May 10, 2005, hereby
incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to the field of
computer-aided training devices of the type commonly referred to as
simulators and, in particular to instrumentation systems for such
simulators. Training devices of this type include simulators for
vehicles such as transport aircraft, ships and large land vehicles
and simulators for fixed station facilities such as power
generators and chemical processes. More specifically, the present
invention relates to flat panel displays having a remote interface
controlled by a controller such that image characteristics of the
flat panel displays may be adjusted remotely by the controller.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Training devices or simulators present situations to a
trainee to allow the trainee to practice some task, such as
operating an airplane. In an aircraft simulator, for example, a
pilot trainee sits in a reproduction of a real aircraft cockpit. An
instructor influences the unfolding of the training mission by
interacting with the computer which is managing the simulation. For
the aeronautic industry, there exists different types of simulators
for meeting the different simulation requirement levels of the
authorities. The highest level of simulation requires that the
whole cockpit of an aircraft be reproduced with the exact same
components than those used in the actual aircraft. A lower level of
simulator does not require that the components, such as the
instruments, be the exact same component as used in an actual
aircraft, but must still be reproduced aesthetically and
functionally. A still lower level of simulators does not require
that the instrument be exactly reproduced aesthetically, but must
still be located in the same position as in the actual aircraft.
The present invention is specifically directed to the types of
simulator not requiring to use the exact same instruments as used
in an actual aircraft.
[0004] In prior art simulators, it has been known to use flat panel
displays behind overlays to simulate instruments. Typically, a
single flat panel is used to simulate more than one instrument at
once. The simulator often use many flat panel displays to simulate
the environment, for example, the whole cockpit of an aircraft.
[0005] During a simulation, it may be required to alter the image
characteristics of the flat panels displays. For instance, during
night time, the trainee may want to dim the instruments. This is
presently done by reaching the image control buttons of each single
flat panel display and manually dimming the screen. This is
obviously not how it would be done in a real aircraft and greatly
diminishes the realism of the simulator. Furthermore, it takes more
time to adjust the screens this way than it would take to dim the
instruments in real life, distracting the trainee longer. Moreover,
the trainee is more prone to adjust the screens differently, which
would not be the case in real life where a single control would
adjust many instruments at once.
[0006] There is therefore a need for an improved simulator
instrumentation system, of the type not requiring the use the exact
same instruments as in real applications, which allows a higher
level of realism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a simulator
instrumentation system that solves the problems of prior art.
[0008] It is a further object of the invention to provide a
simulator instrumentation system that increases the realism of the
simulator.
[0009] It is a further object of the invention to provide a
simulator instrumentation system that reduces the time it takes to
adjust an image characteristic of the screen of a flat panel
display.
[0010] It is a further object of the invention to provide a
simulator instrumentation system that requires an amount of trainee
intervention similar to a real life application.
[0011] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided a simulator instrumentation system comprising a
flat panel display, an overlay placed over the flat panel display
and a controller functionally connected to the flat panel display
for controlling an image characteristic of the flat panel display.
Preferably, the controller is connected to a contact switch. More
preferably, the controller controls the image characteristics of
the flat panel display by simulating an input sequence from the
contact switch. The controller may communicate to the simulator
over a network. Most preferably, the controller controls the image
characteristic based on a simulation performed by the simulator.
The image characteristic may be brightness.
[0012] Alternatively, the simulator instrumentation system further
comprises an instrumentation interface operative to send a signal
to the controller, the controller controlling the image
characteristic of the flat panel display based on the signal.
Preferably, the instrumentation interface is located on the
overlay. The flat panel display may be equipped with a gauge area
and the overlay may be equipped with at least one opening so that
when the overlay is placed over the flat panel display, the gauge
area is visible through the opening.
[0013] Preferably the overlay further comprises bezels surrounding
the openings so as to simulate the look of a real instrument. More
preferably, the simulated instrument is an aircraft instrument.
[0014] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, there is provided a method of controlling an image
characteristic of a flat panel display comprising the steps of
connecting a controller to a contact switch of a flat panel display
and simulating a input sequence of a contact switch using the
controller. Preferably, the method further comprises the step of
covering the flat panel display with an overlay for simulating an
instrument. More preferably, the method further comprises the step
of connecting the controller to an instrumentation interface. Even
more preferably, the method further comprises the step of
controlling the image characteristic based on a signal received
from the instrumentation interface. Most preferably, the method
comprises the step of controlling the image characteristic based on
a simulation.
[0015] The invention provides a low cost alternative to using real
simulator instruments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] These and other features of the present invention will
become more apparent from the following description in which
reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a simulator instrumentation
system in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is schematic view of the simulator instrumentation
system of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] FIG. 1 depicts the simulator instrumentation system 1 which
comprises a flat panel display 10 and an overlay 12. Such an
instrument system is used in simulators when it is not required to
use the exact same instrumentation as in real life applications. In
the present case, a flat panel display is covered by an overlay 12
to mimic actual instrumentation. The flat panel display 10 is
connected to a computer 14 controlling the simulation and to a
controller 16, which may also be a computer. The computer 14
manages the display of information on the screen of the flat panel
display 10 such as the gauge areas 18. A single flat panel display
10 may indeed replace more than one instrument by being able to
display many gauge areas 16 on its screen. Openings 20 located in
the overlay 12 match the gauge areas 18 such that when the overlay
is placed over the flat panel 10, it aesthetically looks like an
actual instrumentation panel containing real instruments. Bezels 22
surrounding the openings 20 add to the realism of the
instrumentation system 1. The overlay may also comprise an
instrumentation interface 24.
[0020] The controller 16 is used to control the image
characteristics of the flat panel 10. Such image characteristics
are standard image characteristics that may be adjusted on a flat
panel display, such as brightness or contrast, for example. The
controller 16 is connected to the flat panel display 10 through its
contact switches 26. This advantageously allow the use of standard
flat panel displays. Actually, the mechanical part of the control
switches is removed and connectors 28 are connected in place of the
contact switches 26.
[0021] The instrumentation interface 24 is an interface for a
trainee to adjust the image characteristics of his instruments. For
example, the trainee may want to dim his instruments. The trainee
adjusts the instrumentation interface 24, which then sends a signal
to the controller 16. The controller 16 translates the signal into
an equivalent sequence of electrical inputs that simulates the
mechanical inputs that the trainee would have had to perform had he
used directly the contact switches 26 of the flat panel display
10.
[0022] The computer 14 is also connected to the controller 16.
During a simulation, the computer may have to adjust an image
characteristic. Similarly to the signal sent by the instrumentation
interface 24, the computer 14 sends a signal to the controller 16
to adjust an image characteristic to a certain level.
[0023] When the simulator is turned on, the controller 16 zeros all
image characteristics of the display panels it controls and then
brings these image characteristics to default values. During
simulation, if for instance the trainee adjusts the instrumentation
interface 24 to get a 60% brightness of his instruments, the
controller 16 then sends a sequence of electrical inputs to the
right contacts switches 26 to vary the brightness from its default
value the new value of 60%. The controller then stores in its
memory that 60% value as the current brightness value.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows schematically how the controller 16 builds its
sequence. Using the same example as previously, if the default
value for brightness was 50%, then the controller 16 would build
the following sequence: 1.times.MENU, 1.times.DOWN, 10.times.RIGHT
(assuming a 1% increase per input) and 2.times.MENU to exit this
function.
[0025] If the flat panel display 10 is so equipped, the zeroing at
the beginning of the simulation may be achieved by inputting a
single RESET signal, which brings all values of the image
characteristics to their default values.
[0026] The instrumentation interface does not have to be installed
on the overlay 12. It has to be placed at the same position it is
placed in the actual aircraft which may be somewhere where no
overlay is used.
[0027] Just as the computer 14 may control the information
displayed on more than one flat panel display 10, the controller
may control the image characteristics of some or all of the flat
panel displays 10 used in a simulator.
[0028] The present invention has been described with regard to
preferred embodiments. The description as much as the drawings were
intended to help the understanding of the invention, rather than to
limit its scope. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
various modifications may be made to the invention without
departing from the scope of the invention as described herein, and
such modifications are intended to be covered by the present
description.
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